Yeah, you rite
Spent some time this evening with the neighbor from across the street, who bailed with his family to the Houston area before the storm. They’re been back periodlically while other family members live in their place. This family has been struggling with the facts that 1) schools for their kids in this Houston ‘burb are light years ahead of what they left here and 2) their insurance company gave them like $10,000 less than cost of repair to their home. As a result, they’ve hired what appears to be a crew of crackheads to re-do their roof and are still majorly in Waffle Mode about coming back. I don’t think they will, at least not anytime soon.
This is a good, solid family. They’re like 5th generation on this street and have weathered the entire shift from good place to decline to shabby to crackhouses to improvement to going good again. Due to their long absence, they are just now realizing the Basic Truth About Living In New Orleans these days — namely that you can’t rely on anyone to do anything for you.
Now, there are going to be all kinds of people who are going to jump up and say, “it’s always been that way and it’s about time you learned.” That attitude simply shows an ignorance of what’s happening (or not happening) in so much of this city right now. Elsewhere in this country, it’s assumed the water runs, the schools operate and the fire department shows up with big hoses and brawny studs when a house catches fire. Nowadays here, the water doesn’t always run, it’s up to parents to set up the schools and a house fire brings a half crew of brawny but overworked studs who hope the water runs with enough pressure to reach from hydrant to house. And this is in the “good” parts of town.
So, to our displaced neighbors, I say it’s best to stay where you are for now. If things are good there, reap all you can and contribute back as much and as often as you can. This city isn’t going anywhere while you’re gone. To those bent on coming back, I say to gird yourself for a new level of self-reliance apart from any support system of insurance company or government or anything aside from yourself, friends and neighbors. And for those who are here, I say thank you. You rock.
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For anyone who owns a home that was damaged and has not registered please do it! The money is coming in and it is for you.
Go to : http://www.louisianarebuilds.info
click on The Road Home Section top center and it will bring you through a very easy registration process.
Basically it will pay up to $150K give or take insurance and the assessed value of your home.
We can not change it all, but we can at least give people who are not here, not listening to WWL etc. the information to register for the money that may allow them to return.
I agree that the school situation is no doubt better in Texas, but at least the forth coming $4.2 billion will aid in the decision of returning and the attempt to make our city better along with our public education and the citizens who want to support it.
“And for those who are here, I say thank you. You rock.”
Thanks, Craig. You and TBK rock too! We’re gonna be stronger after all this.
..and for those of us who have moved back. We’re rockin’ too.
“Never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long”
“Never heard the melody until I need the song”
..and for those of us who have moved back. We’re rockin’ too.
“Never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long”
“Never heard the melody until I needed the song”
As if I wasn’t already completely infatuated with Termite; she has to go and quote Tom Waits….outstanding!
;)